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Author
Topic: When the Only Wing One Can Rely on is the Left Wing . . . (Read 5642 times)

The NSW public health system is something of a Curate's Egg. Good in parts, not so wholesome in others.

Matty the Damned dutifully reported to the Nepean Hospital Day Surgery Unit at 0645 hrs on Tuesday and, as expected, was placed on the emergency surgery list. By 1530 hrs nothing had happened, other than an IV antibiotic treatment, and I was feeling rather ill. Being nil by mouth (not even a sip of water) is an nasty thing.

Fortunately a kindly RN took pity on me an arranged for IV fluids and some morphine to be administered. By 1830, my theatre booking was canceled and I was fed and watered and sent to the ward to stay overnight.

The next day I had a HUGE fight with the infamous Whore Registrar and was finally taken to theatre where a closed reduction was performed and a humeral brace put on. Basically they knocked me out, forced the bones back together and a plastic brace and cuff holds the whole ghastly affair together. I have movement back in my right hand and the pain is much reduced. The infection is under control.

I want to say at this point that the treatment and care I received at the hands of the nursing and allied health workers was nothing short of exemplary. All of them, to a woman, were courteous, kind and obliging. They work in the most trying of circumstances for terrible pay surrounded by the most pitiful, difficult creatures known to man -- the ill.

The original treatment ordered by the slut doctor (registrars are qualified doctors training in their specialty under the guidance of a consultant) was entirely wrong. A hanging back slab is specifically contraindicated for an injury like mine. Being plastered from wrist to shoulder with a heavy weight attached kept the bones straight, but pulled the ends apart which compressed the radial nerve. Just how much permanent damage has been done remains to be seen. Hopefully it will heal completely.

There is still a chance that I will need to have a humeral nail inserted (ie the metal rod) but I'm assured by the consultant that this current approach will most likely work.

We'll see.

At this point I want to send props to Little Steve, who rang me twice during my stay. The comfort and support I drew from that contact cannot be adequately described. I am forever in his debt.

So to the rest of you. Your love and kind thoughts (and yes healing energy from the hippies amongst you) will not be forgotten. As a token of his appreciation Matty the Damned will ensure your deaths are quick and painless when he becomes Brutal Overlord of the Universe. Bwhahahahahahaa!

Let me close with this excerpt from the discharge report written by the Rotten Registrar whom I have dubbed "Attila the Hen". Verbatim I will quote it:

Other notesThis patient exhibits an extremely hostile and sullen demeanor [sic] when dealing with medical officers. He is prone to aggressive outbursts marked by abusive and profane language during examinations and is generally uncooperative. Psychiatric assessment was recommended, but the patient refused consent.

Nevertheless nursing and allied health staff report that this patient is cooperative, courteous and responsive during their interactions. Given his apparent positive disposition towards non-medical clinical staff, it is recommended that when medical officers attend this patient they do so under the supervision and advice of a member of the senior nursing staff to minimise the likelihood of a distressing and unpleasant exchange.

I am so glad that you were finally fed and watered at the end of that first long day. I am glad to hear that you had your surgery and are well enough to post here. Its great to see you! "Psychiatric assessment?" Can't the Whore Registrar simply understand that Matty doesn't like everyone, esp those who don't know what the hell they are doing in an emergency situation?

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Miss Melia is glad to see her Mattymoo out of nasty hospital, relieved he seems to be being put back together (unlike Humpty Dumpty ) and delighted that she got to speak with him today. Skypeypoo rocks!

Loves ya baby!

Logged

/\___/\ /\__/\(=' . '=) (=' . '=)(,,,_ ,,,)/ (,,,_ ,,,)/ Cats rule!

The difference between cats and dogs is that dogs come when called, whereas cats take a message and get back to you.

As for the typing, well I'm a certified touch typist. I'm talking good. Like 78 wpm with an aggregate accuracy of 100% so it's not a great leap for me to be proficient with one hand. Nevertheless I am much slower and my bung arm makes sitting at the keyboard tiring. It took me more than 30 mins to type the OP in this thread.

Regarding a complaint against Attila the Hen. I am very unhappy about her treatment and subsequent conduct in relation to my case. Nevertheless she is a young and inexperienced doctor and as such is prone to errors. I also believe she made her original diagnosis and treatment orders in good faith. She honestly believed she was doing the right thing. Presumably she works in a stressful, demanding environment and that, along with other factors, led to her making a serious but unintentional blunder.

I don't believe a formal complaint is the right approach here. The machinery of NSW Health is cumbersome and complaints rarely result in a good outcome for anyone involved. But this mismanagement cannot go unremarked.

My GP will review my case and I will ask her to write to the consultant surgeon who supervises Attila with a view to having the matter resolved doctor to doctor so to speak. I feel that with the right professional support from her colleagues Attila can improve her practice. A formal complaint can't undo the misfortunes I've encountered and I fail to see how placing a blight on the record of a young doctor for one error can do any good for anyone. She deserves an opportunity to move on from this.

Other notesThis patient exhibits an extremely hostile and sullen demeanor [sic] when dealing with medical officers. He is prone to aggressive outbursts marked by abusive and profane language during examinations and is generally uncooperative. Psychiatric assessment was recommended, but the patient refused consent.

How dare she call you a "demon whore" and not spell it properly!

I hope you have some good bed sponge stories, and I hope you have lots of narcotics for pain.............lots.

Incidentally, are your other one handed activities up to the speed and accuracy of your typing?

J x

Logged

Roughly roundabout somewhere in the eighteenth or nineteenth century, Sodomite begat Homosexual out of moral, medical and legal models, bequeathing him Identity, who inbred with Nuclear Family and Industrialism to spawn Homophobia.

Glad to hear that things may get better for you and that you may not have to have a pin in your arm. I cannot imagine how painful your injury must be. I hope you heal nicely and that you have full use of your broken wing soon. I am glad tht you are still entertaining us with your other wing. Thanks for keeping us up to date on your medical adventures. It is funny how the idiot intern does not get it that she caused you so much more grief. You are right. She does not know her blank from a hole in the ground! Anyway take care.

Good news. Very thoughtful of you re: the misdiagnoser in every way. Best of luck, collective hippie vibes and whatever else is required to ensure full repair of the nerve. Fly straight ( as it's said ) whenever it is you're cleared for take off.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts